Agastache plant named ‘Kiegapur’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Agastache  plant named ‘Kiegapur’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and open plant habit; freely basal branching growth habit; numerous purple-colored flowers positioned close together on erect flowering spikes; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Agastache mexicanacultivar Kiegapur.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAgastache plant, botanically known as Agastache mexicana, commerciallyknown as Hyssop, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kiegapur’.

The new Agastache is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Venhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Agastaches with improved plant habitand flowering characteristics and attractive flower coloration.

The new Agastache originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2001, of a proprietary seedling selection of Agastachemexicana identified as code number 96(0360-1), not patented, as thefemale, or seed parent, with a proprietary seedling selection ofAgastache mexicana identified as code number 97(0024), not patented, asthe male, or pollen parent. The new Agastache was selected as a singleplant from the resulting progency of the cross-pollination by theInventor in a controlled environment in Venhuizen, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Venhuizen, The Netherlands since 2001, has shown that theunique features of this new Agastache are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Kiegapur have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and culture such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique charateristics of ‘Kiegapur’. These characteristics incombination distinquish ‘Kiegapur’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofAgastache:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and open plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching growth habit.    -   3. Numerous purple-colored flowers positioned close together on        erect flowering spikes.    -   4. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Venhuizen, The Netherlands,plants of the new Agastache differed primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in flower color as plants of the female parentselection had lilac-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Venhuizen, The Netherlands,plants of the new Agastache differed from plants of the male parentselection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parentselection had pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Agastache can be compared to plants of the cultivarChampagne, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inVenhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Agastache and the cultivarChampagne differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Agastache had brighter green-colored        foliage than plants of the cultivar Champagne.    -   2. Plants of the new Agastache and the cultivar Champagne        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Champagne had        pink orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Agastache.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kiegapur’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Kiegapur’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercialpractice during the winter in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse withday temperatures about 21 to 24° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18°C. and light levels about 5,000 to 9,000 foot-candles. Plants were grownwith one rooted cutting per 15.25-cm container for about eleven weeks.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Agastache mexicana cultivar Kiegapur.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Agastache mexicana identified as code number 96(0360-01) not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Agastache mexicana identified as code number 97(0024), not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 21° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About three weeks at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright, outwardly spreading and open plant habit.            Freely basal branching with about seven primary lateral            branches and numerous secondary branches. Moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 29 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 5 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: When developing, entire; fully            expanded, sparsely serrate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. petiole length: About 7 mm.            Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Developing and fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and            lower surfaces: 146B. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces:            146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous single bilabiate flowers            arranged in verticillasters arranged in axillary spikes.            Individual flowers face mostly outward. Freely flowering            with about 42 flowers and flower buds per spike. Flowers not            persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower throughout the            summer, flowering continuous during this period.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days.        -   Fragrance.—Very faint; spicy sweet.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 5 cm.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Zygomorphic; bilabiate. Length: About            3.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: 71B.        -   Corolla.—Petal arrangement/appearance: Bilabiate; five            petals, upper two petals fused and lower three petals fused,            all five petals fused at base into a tubular structure.            Petal length: Upper petals, lobes: About 3 mm. Lower petals,            lobes: About 6 mm. Petal width: Upper petals, lobes: About            2 mm. Lower petals, lobes: About 6 mm. Petal apex: Broadly            acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Finely pubescent: sanity. Petal color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: 77B. Fully opened, upper            surface: 77B. Fully opened, lower surface: Slightly lighter            than 77B.        -   Calyx.—Quantity/arrangement: One single calyx tube per            flower; five fused sepals. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Apex: Acute. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Darker than 195A and tinged with 185D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.5 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 143B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 45 to 60° from            vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower. Four.            Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther            color: 90A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 155A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            3.3 cm. Style length: About 3.1 mm. Style color: 78B. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 78A. Ovary color: 145B.        -   Seed/fruit. —Seed nor fruit production has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Agastache have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Agastache.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Agastache have been observed    to have good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from 5 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Agastache plant named ‘Kiegapur’, asillustrated and described.